Regional Queensland is expected to get some reprieve from the housing crisis with thousands of beachside blocks to be made available on the property market soon. But the coastal communities between Harvey Bay and Bundaberg fear that might affect their relaxed lifestyles.
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00:00From cane fields to residential housing, it's the rapidly evolving landscape of the Bundaberg coastline.
00:09Between Elliott Heads and Bergara is around 5,000 lots to be developed and that's significant.
00:15That will change the face of our region.
00:18The beachside havens are in high demand from southerners and retirees.
00:23It's definite that people have found out the secret of our Bundaberg coastline,
00:28our beautiful waterways and our clean, fresh environment.
00:32So it's no doubt that it will grow and grow substantially in the next few years.
00:38Shantara Manulet recently moved from the Gold Coast and now runs a coffee van at Bergara.
00:44Everyone's so supportive and welcoming. I've made so many friends being here.
00:48And yeah, I'm just loving it. I wouldn't go back.
00:51While many support the growth, there are questions about whether the infrastructure can cope
00:56with extra traffic, a shortage of schools and emergency services.
01:01Finding tradesmen is another challenge.
01:04We're probably a bit stretched in terms of the labour market for civil construction as well as for building constructions.
01:12On the Fraser Coast, $3 billion in projects were approved last year.
01:17Not everyone's happy about the changing identity.
01:20If we're not careful, we're going to have another Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast.
01:24Which, as I said, I'm not against development, but it needs to be in the right places.
01:29People prefer to be in order, so I can't deny them that.
01:34The Queensland Government has a target to deliver one million homes over the next two decades.
01:39It's announced a $2 billion fund to fast track housing developments with half of the money to be spent on infrastructure, specifically in rural areas.
01:50To help meet the demands of these sprawling communities.
01:54And the health care workers are still in the right places.
02:050